In this discussion, David Wallace-Wells, a New York Times writer and climate expert, sheds light on the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. He addresses the staggering loss of over 12,000 structures and the anticipated $30 billion in insured damages. The conversation delves into the concept of 'urban firestorms' and the urgent need for better city planning and firefighting strategies. David also highlights residents' growing anxiety and the implications for insurance and real estate as they face the reality of living in increasingly fire-prone areas.
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Unprecedented Scale of Destruction
The scale of the Los Angeles wildfires is unprecedented, leaving lasting scars on the city and its residents.
The fires raise questions about the city's future and highlight the need to reckon with the true scale of climate change risks.
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Neighborhoods Wiped Out
Pacific Palisades, a vibrant coastal community of 23,000, was devastated by the fire, losing all markers of its existence.
Another neighborhood, Altadena, lost up to 5,000 homes, wiping away decades of Black history and culture.
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The Return of the Urban Firestorm
Recent fires, like those in Fort McMurray and Lahaina, mark a return of the urban firestorm, where homes become fuel.
Los Angeles' status as a major cultural capital amplifies the impact and makes it a worrying sign of future disasters.
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The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming is a comprehensive and alarming account of the potential impacts of climate change. The book, inspired by Wallace-Wells' 2017 New York Magazine article of the same name, explores various scenarios of Earth's future under different temperature increases. It discusses a wide range of climate-related disasters, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, extinctions, disease outbreaks, fires, droughts, famines, and increased geopolitical conflict. While the book focuses on the dire consequences rather than solutions, it acknowledges that measures such as a carbon tax, changes in agricultural practices, and investments in green energy and carbon capture could mitigate some of the worst effects. The book is praised for its urgent and detailed portrayal of climate change but has also been criticized for its alarmist tone and lack of concrete solutions[1][2][4].
<p>Fires continue to burn in Los Angeles as millions of people remain under an extreme fire weather alert. The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire have already flattened entire neighbourhoods in Los Angeles, leaving nothing but outlines and ash where homes once stood. It is expected that this will all amount to the worst natural disaster in American history in terms of cost and scale.</p><p><br></p><p>These fires raise major questions about the future of Los Angeles, who is to blame, insurance and just how prepared we are for worsening fires and other climate change fueled disasters.</p><p><br></p><p>To discuss the size and scope of these fires, and what can be learned from them, we’re joined by David Wallace-Wells, New York Times writer and columnist and author of The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming. </p><p><br></p><p>For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts</a></p>
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